Let’s Sort it Out

In addition to reducing and reusing waste, there are other valid routes to protect the environment, including recycling and resource recovery. It doesn’t take much to send it in the right direction, that is, of waste sorting. By waste sorting, we can select the materials to be sent for treatment and recycling, while intercepting those that require special disposal treatment. Recycling allows us to transform waste into reusable resources, reducing the costs and the energy consumption necessary for producing new objects whilst also safeguarding the environment and our natural resources. Municipal recycling bins or door-to-door collection, it doesn’t matter! You can recycle glass (an infinite number of times); paper and cardboard up to 7 times (the trees will thank you!); plastic (only bottles, containers or other packaging), from which fabrics, household goods, toys and many other things can be made.

Aluminium and other metals (cans, trays, bottle caps, etc.) can also be recycled an infinite number of times: the production of a new can with recycled material allows for an energy saving of 95%! Organic waste, such as kitchen leftovers, leaves and grass cuttings, can all be turned into compost: compost is a natural fertiliser and you can even make it at home. And the environment will breathe easier if you return expired drugs to the pharmacy, if you throw old batteries away in special recycling bins and if you take your WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic equipment) to the recycling centre: household electrical appliances, computers and mobile phones are a real gold mine for the materials that they contain, some of which are precious. These are just a few guidelines: respect them and learn how the collection process works in your town.

Solution
The light bulbs shouldn’t be in the bin for glass, the football shouldn’t be in the bin for plastics, and the dirty, greasy cardboard pizza box shouldn’t be in the bin for paper, into which only clean paper can be put.